Page 53 of Inferno

Crossing to the refrigerator, he grabbed a frosty beer, popped the top and downed half the can in one swallow.

Still feeling disoriented, he stumbled over to the table and collapsed into the nearest chair.

For the past five months, he’d been tormented by nightmares.Vivid, harrowing nightmares that ended with him perishing in the same inferno that had claimed the lives of his parents.

Although some rational part of his brain told him there was no correlation between his dreams and reality, he couldn’t shake the growing premonition that something terrible was going to happen to him.

And soon.

God help me, Stan thought bleakly, dropping his face into his open palm and closing his eyes. The nightmares had taken a devastating toll on his mind and body, leaving him mentally and physically drained.

“Dad?”

Startled, Stan jerked his head up to watch as Manning cautiously entered the kitchen, eyeing him worriedly.

“Are you okay, Dad?”

“I’m fine.” Stan’s voice was a hoarse rasp, as if he’d just battled a four-alarm fire without wearing an airpack. “What’re you still doing up?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Manning mumbled, joining him at the table.

Stan smiled wanly. “Miss your mom, huh?”

“No,” Manning said swiftly.

At Stan’s knowing look, a sheepish grin tugged at his son’s mouth. “Maybe just a little,” he admitted.

Stan chuckled.“Mama’s boy.”

Manning blushed. “Hey, I’m not used to her being gone. Even though she only goes out of town once or twice a year, it sucks when she’s not here.”

“I know.” Stan took a long pull on his beer. “If it makes you feel any better, I miss her, too.”

“I can tell.” Manning regarded him sympathetically. “You seem kinda lost without her.”

Stan chuckled quietly. “There’s probably some truth to that.”

Manning nodded slowly. “So you and Ma…you’re okay?”

“Of course.”Stan searched his son’s face. “Why? Were you worried about us?”

“Nah.Not at all.”Manning grinned, visibly relieved, then pushed back his chair and stood. “I think I’ll have some more chili.”

Stan cocked a brow at him. “It’s after midnight.”

The boy shrugged. “It’s not like I have to get up for school in the morning. Besides, we’re talking about your award-winning chili,” he said, referring to Stan’s first place victory at the fire department’s annual chili cookoff that summer. “So I can eat itanytime.”

“Hmm.”Stan watched as his son shuffled to the refrigerator and opened the door. Raising his beer to his mouth, Stan ventured casually, “Is there something you wanna tell me about you and Caitlyn?”

Manning froze.

Calmly setting down his drink, Stan waited.

After several moments, Manning closed the fridge and turned with obvious reluctance to face Stan.

They stared at each other.

“Should I repeat the question?”